We recently visited Blommekloof Country Cottages, located in the Robinson Pass about 30 km outside Mossel Bay, as guests of Ali & Claude. There are 2 cottages – the newer Sunflower Cottage, and the converted labourers cottages, now combined and called Old Cottage. Both are eco-friendly (completely off-grid and supplied with mainly rain water), fenced in so you can bring your pets (including a parrot once!), and full of farm life activities for kids and adults alike.

We delighted in watched the chickens literally race their little legs off across the yard for a snack, feeding carrots and apples to the donkeys (Escargot and Harold) and Whiskey the white horse (get it?) and picking naartjies, granadillas and tamarillos off the trees. There’s no Wi-Fi so you can enjoy the peace and quiet without being disturbed by whatever else is going on in the world. Light a fire, play a board game, read a book (or ten), relax and breathe. It’s so peaceful that the Southern Boubou who arrived to tap at the window scared me half to death.

We preferred to stay put at the farm, but there are things to keep you occupied in the area if you simply must explore…… Leeukloof cheeses are delish (Pam and Sally will do a little tasting for you if you phone to book), the Percheron stud farm (Outeniqua Moon) is just down the road and Mossel Bay is only 30 km away. And you simply have to try the ostrich biltong and droëwors from Groot Brak.

As budget getaways go, Blommekloof is ideal and your pets and kids will love it too!

This is the sunny Sunflower Cottage:

Visit Old Cottage – the original and historic labourers cottages – renovated and renewed:

And general farm life….. the chickens, the donkeys, the flowers and fruit, the cheeses and Ali’s magnificent lemon curd – yum!